Charles Henry Chapman
The Life of a Comic Book Artist
by John C. Chapman

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A prolific British illustrator, CH Chapman (1878–1972) is best known for drawing characters such as Ally Sloper, Billy Bunter, and the rest of the Greyfriars School cohort. In this biography, John C. Chapman explores his grandfather’s long and satisfying career, including the Chapman genealogy and his birth to a father who had struck out on his own, disowned the family name of Richardson, and adopted the name Chapman. Chapman’s father recognized his son’s talent early on and encouraged him to pursue an education as an architectural artist. Through talent, pluck, and sheer determination, young Chapman went on to sell his drawings and prove himself in the exploding market for boys' storybooks and comics that thrived up until WWII. Chapman’s career reignited after the war as an illustrator for the Greyfriars stories, now in book form. Over almost sixty years, Chapman continued to rise to the challenges of workloads, deadlines, and keeping the illustrations fresh over several generations of boys who were enthralled by the ongoing episodes of life at Greyfriars. Charles Henry Chapman: The Life of a Comic Book Artist is illustrated throughout with family and archival photographs along with Chapman’s artwork. It will be of particular interest to students engaged in university-level studies of boys’ literature and aspects of social science of the early twentieth century, as well as the fellowship of Old Boys Cubs worldwide who grew up with the characters Chapman drew so faithfully.

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John C. Chapman had a close personal connection to CH Chapman, his grandfather, spanning many years. Living nearby, he experienced firsthand Chapman’s strong work ethic, his generosity, and his eccentricities. He was privy to many of the stories (true or not) often told about his grandfather. He watched as Chapman continued to work in his studio, illustrating books well into his eighties. Now retired, John C. Chapman wrote educational material for college and postgraduate students, with over twenty scientific papers and reviews published. He shares his grandfather’s love of the natural world and continues to contribute to eBird and iNaturalist. Until a few years ago, he played the violin regularly in amateur symphony orchestras. He lives with Jean, his wife of over sixty years, in Edmonton, Alberta.

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Contributors

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John C. Chapman